Spice Island Tea House holding its final take-out offer through 3 pm today, June 25.

Spice Island Tea House, the longtime Oakland restaurant that closed its doors on September 30, will hold its final take-out event through 3:00 pm today, June 25. The restaurant has been holding occasional pop-up events since the fall. Supplies and quantities are limited, but orders may be placed via their Squarespace site.

Noodles of Burma Pop-Up Event, from Spice Island Tea House team, October 20-21.

The team behind Spice Island Tea House in Oakland is putting on a Noodles of Burma Pop-Up Event on October 20 and 21.

[W]e hope your love of noodles remain strong to join us on Oct 20 and 21! So save the dates! This is a dine-in only event, so no take-out will be available. No reservations. No BYOB. No rice. Just noodles.

Spice Island Tea House was a long-standing restaurant in Oakland that closed on September 30.  The storefront is located at 253 Atwood St. (map).

2023 film In My Mother's Skin, from Singapore, Philippines, Taiwan, playing in Pittsburgh on October 5 as part of SCREENSHOT: Asia Film Fest.

The 2023 film In My Mother's Skin will play in Pittsburgh on October 5, part of this year's SCREENSHOT: Asia Film Fest.

As World War II in 1945 Philippines is coming to an end, a wealthy family is trapped in their country mansion and terrorized by Japanese soldiers who are losing control of the island. The family’s patriarch, Aldo, is rumored to have stolen Japanese gold and hidden it nearby. Knowing that his family will be killed if the gold is found, Aldo leaves to seek help from the Americans. His absence causes the family to fear that he will never return, while the mother’s health deteriorates. Desperate for help, the family’s young daughter Tala turns to a deceitful and flesh-eating fairy, who plans to devour them all.

The festival provides a content warning for language, violence, and horror imagery. It plays at the Harris Theater in downtown's Cultural District (map) from 8:00 pm and tickets are available online. SCREENSHOT: Asia screenings are free to those with Pitt IDs, so those guests may show them at the door to gain entrance, space permitting.

Spice Island Tea House closing September 30; last day of dine-in service September 28.

Spice Island Tea House in Oakland announced today it will close on September 30, with the last day of dine-in service on September 28.

On a more bittersweet note, we will be ending our 28-year run as Spice Island Tea House this week. Our last day of Dine-in Service will be Thursday, Sept 28, and last day for Take-Out Service will be Saturday, Sept 30. We are grateful to have had the pleasure of serving you throughout the years. When we first opened in 1995, never in our wildest dreams did we think we would go on this long. Admittedly, the last few years have been the hardest we’ve ever faced. And thanks to you, our customers, for the enduring support that have kept us going for as long as we have. But now is the time to ride this ship into the sunset. Although we will no longer be operating as Spice Island, we are exploring the possibility of other culinary endeavors through a series of Pop-ups and events. So stay tuned and follow us on Instagram and Facebook for upcoming events! Thank you, Spicefans! It has been a lovely venture!

The restaurant is located at 253 Atwood St. (map).

2023 SCREENSHOT: Asia film festival includes selections from China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, from October 4 - 8.

The 2023 SCREENSHOT: Asia film festival will run from October 4 through 8 and will include movies from China, Japan, Korean, and Taiwan in its lineup. 

• Coo Coo 043 ( 一家子兒咕咕叫 / Taiwan) - October 8, 3:30 pm, Frick Fine Arts Building
• Hail to Hell (지옥만세 / Korea) - October 6, 6:00 pm, Harris Theater
• In My Mother's Skin (Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan) - October 5, 8:00 pm, Harris Theater
• Plan 75 (Japan) - October 7, 5:30 pm, Harris Theater (includes Director Q&A)
• Return to Dust (隐入尘烟 / China) - TBD
• Tiger Stripes (Malaysia) - October 8, 7:00 pm, Alumni Hall Room 323 (includes Director Q&A)

The movies will play at the Harris Theater in downtown's Cultural District and in spots around the University of Pittsburgh campus. 

Pittsburgh Japanese Film Festival, March 17 - 30 at Row House Cinema.

The 2023 Pittsburgh Japanese Film Festival will run from March 17 through 30 at the Row House Cinema in Lawrenceille. Tickets for this year's iteration of the annual festival will go on sale in mid-January.

Lunar New Year celebration at Pitt, January 25.

via traveloriented.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will present a Lunar New Year celebration on January 25.

Join the Asian Studies Center in the Global Hub as we celebrate the Year of the Rabbit with snacks, music, and activities!

It runs from 1:00 to 3:00 pm in the Global Hub, located on the first floor of Posvar Hall.

Lunar New Year Virtual Event with Pitt's Institute of International Studies in Education, February 8.

The University of Pittsburgh's Institute of International Studies in Education will hold a Lunar New Year Virtual Event on February 8.

The Institute for International Studies in Education (IISE) invites the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) and the School of Education (SOE) communities to our virtual celebration of the Lunar New Year 2022. Please join us and share your own story about the Lunar New Year. There will be opportunities to win gift cards during our fun games!

This Zoom event is co-sponsored by the Asian Studies Center (ASC) and School of Education Council for Graduate Students in Education (CGSE)

It begins at 9:00 am EST and registration is required.

Asian short films "Asian Voices," part of Reel Q: Pittsburgh LGBTQ+ Film Festival, available for online streaming.

The six Asian short films that comprise "Asian Voices," part of this year's Reel Q: Pittsburgh LGBTQ+ Film Festival, are now available for online streaming. They include "Swingin'" from Taiwan, "As Bold As Red, As Soft As Velvet" from Singapore, "Summer Shimmer" from China, "My Mother's Girlfriend" from India, "Mutya" from the Philippines, and "Between Us" from Japan. The films are available in Pennsylvania and can be viewed for a 7 days 7 hours after unlocking.

2019 Singaporean film Revenge of the Pontianak online at Pitt, April 7.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will present the 2019 film Revenge of the Pontianak on April 7 as the next installment in its Malaysian Horror Series. A synopsis, from Netflix:

A wedding in a Malaysian village leaves out one guest: a scorned vampire ghost bent on settling a secret score with the groom and anyone in her way.

The onilne presentation starts at 7:00 pm.

1957 film Sumpah Pontianak online with Pitt's Asian Studies Center, February 17.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will present the 1957 film Sumpah Pontianak on February 17 as part of its upcoming Pontianak Film Series.

Third in the series of schlocky films from the 50s. The first Pontianak film appeared in 1957 Singaporean Malay horror film directed by Indian film director B.N. Rao starring Maria Menado and M. Amin. Based on the Malay folktales of a blood-sucking ghost born from a woman who dies in childbirth. The smash hit premiered on 27 April 1957 and screened for almost three months at the local Cathay cinemas. Its success spawned two other sequels, Dendam Pontianak (Revenge of the Pontianak, 1957) and Sumpah Pontianak (Curse of the Pontianak, 1958). It is also said to have launched the Pontianak genre in Singapore and Malaysia, with rival Shaw producing its own Pontianak trilogy and several movies of the same genre were also made in Malaysia.

The movie has been pushed back two weeks from its originally-scheduled screening. It starts on Vimeo at 7:00 pm, and registration is required.

1957 film Sumpah Pontianak online with Pitt's Asian Studies Center, rescheduled to February 17.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will present the 1957 film Sumpah Pontianak on February 17 as part of its upcoming Pontianak Film Series.

Third in the series of schlocky films from the 50s. The first Pontianak film appeared in 1957 Singaporean Malay horror film directed by Indian film director B.N. Rao starring Maria Menado and M. Amin. Based on the Malay folktales of a blood-sucking ghost born from a woman who dies in childbirth. The smash hit premiered on 27 April 1957 and screened for almost three months at the local Cathay cinemas. Its success spawned two other sequels, Dendam Pontianak (Revenge of the Pontianak, 1957) and Sumpah Pontianak (Curse of the Pontianak, 1958). It is also said to have launched the Pontianak genre in Singapore and Malaysia, with rival Shaw producing its own Pontianak trilogy and several movies of the same genre were also made in Malaysia.

The movie has been pushed back two weeks from its originally-scheduled screening. It starts on Vimeo at 7:00 pm, and registration is required.

1957 film Sumpah Pontianak online with Pitt's Asian Studies Center, February 3.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will present the 1957 film Sumpah Pontianak on February 3 as part of its Pontianak Film Series.

Third in the series of schlocky films from the 50s. The first Pontianak film appeared in 1957 Singaporean Malay horror film directed by Indian film director B.N. Rao starring Maria Menado and M. Amin. Based on the Malay folktales of a blood-sucking ghost born from a woman who dies in childbirth. The smash hit premiered on 27 April 1957 and screened for almost three months at the local Cathay cinemas. Its success spawned two other sequels, Dendam Pontianak (Revenge of the Pontianak, 1957) and Sumpah Pontianak (Curse of the Pontianak, 1958). It is also said to have launched the Pontianak genre in Singapore and Malaysia, with rival Shaw producing its own Pontianak trilogy and several movies of the same genre were also made in Malaysia.

The movie starts on Vimeo at 7:00 pm, and registration is required.

1957 film Sumpah Pontianak online with Pitt's Asian Studies Center, February 3.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will present the 1957 film Sumpah Pontianak on February 3 as part of its Pontianak Film Series.

Third in the series of schlocky films from the 50s. The first Pontianak film appeared in 1957 Singaporean Malay horror film directed by Indian film director B.N. Rao starring Maria Menado and M. Amin. Based on the Malay folktales of a blood-sucking ghost born from a woman who dies in childbirth. The smash hit premiered on 27 April 1957 and screened for almost three months at the local Cathay cinemas. Its success spawned two other sequels, Dendam Pontianak (Revenge of the Pontianak, 1957) and Sumpah Pontianak (Curse of the Pontianak, 1958). It is also said to have launched the Pontianak genre in Singapore and Malaysia, with rival Shaw producing its own Pontianak trilogy and several movies of the same genre were also made in Malaysia.

The movie starts on Vimeo at 7:00 pm, though registration information is not yet available.

That's why stores in Pittsburgh play Singapore's national anthem.

Last August, a video from Pittsburgh went moderately viral when it recorded an Asian grocery in the Strip District playing Singapore's national anthem. A video from Panda Supermarket last week shows the same thing:



The simple answer, then and now, is that grocery stores use streaming Singaporean radio stations for their in-store music. In the case of Panda, it's YES 933 FM. The video from Panda was taken around 6:00 pm; YES 933 FM plays the national anthem at the start of its 6:00 am program.

Oakland's Spice Island Tea House to reopen for pick-up, from May 8.

After temporarily closing on March 21, Oakland's Spice Island Tea House will reopen for pick-up orders on May 8.

After a month’s hiatus we are offering take-outs again except this time it’s online only! It’ll be a limited hours and menu items so if you don’t see your favorite dish, worry not! We will be adding items as we get back into the groove in this crazy new world. Check out what we have on the website.

Orders can be placed online via their website.
Spice Island Tea House is located at 253 Atwood St. in Oakland (map).

"COVID-19: On the Ground from Taiwan and Singapore" with Pitt's Global Studies Center, May 7.

via UDN.

The Global Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh shares news of an upcoming online discussion, "COVID-19: On the Ground from Taiwan and Singapore," on May 7.

Join David Bell and Yurika Kurakata for COVID-19 on-the-ground reports from Taiwan and Singapore. David Bell is a history teacher at Kang Chiao International School in Taipei, Taiwan, and he is a graduate of Amherst College. Before moving to Singapore, Yurika Kurakata was the director of the East Asia Resource Center at the University of Washington. Learn about how the governments, schools, and people of Taiwan and Singapore prepared for and are responding to this pandemic.

It runs from 7:00 to 8:00 pm on the 7th; those interested can register online.

Studio Ghibli Fest 2020 brings six Ghibli films to Pittsburgh theaters, starting with My Neighbor Totoro (となりのトトロ) in May.

Tickets recently went on sale for GKIDS Studio Ghibli Fest 2020, which will bring six Studio Ghibli films to theaters around the country. This year's festival will play at the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville and the North Hills and is comprised of:

• My Neighbor Totoro (となりのトトロ) - May 10 (dubbed in English) and May 11 (with English subtitles)
• The Wind Rises (風立ちぬ) - June 14 (dubbed) and June 15 (subtitled)
• Howl's Moving Castle (ハウルの動く城) - July 12 (dubbed) and July 13 (subtitled)
• Kiki's Delivery Service (魔女の宅急便) - August 16 (dubbed) and August 17 (subtitled)
• Princess Mononoke (もののけ姫) - September 27 (dubbed) and September 28 (subtitled)
• Spirited Away (千と千尋の神隠し) - October 25 (dubbed) and October 26 (subtitled)

Pitt sends message to its student community about racism and xenophobia against Asian students.

Kenyon Bonner, the Vice Provost and Dean of Students at the University of Pittsburgh, sent an announcement to the Pitt student population yesterday about the coronavirus's potential impact on health and well-being. The message also included a message about curbing racism and xenophobia that has been directed against Asian-American and international students at Pitt:

In addition to our physical wellness, it is important that during this time we remain committed to our communal well-being. Pitt aims to be an inclusive community in which everyone feels like they belong and are valued. Disappointedly, some members of our community have used the coronavirus as a vehicle to spew hateful rhetoric targeted at some of our international, Asian American students, and people who are perceived to have been in contact with COVID-19. This type of treatment is wrong, insensitive, harmful, and contrary to the University’s values. Although this outbreak started in China, having Chinese ancestry – or any other ancestry – does not place a person at higher risk for this illness.

As you discuss the coronavirus, please keep a few considerations in mind:

• Memes and jokes often stem from offensive stereotypes
• Jokes about Asian connections to the coronavirus normalize racist and discriminatory behavior
• Fact-check information before sharing on social media. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) are credible resources
• Empathize with those who have contracted COVID-19 or whose friends or family may be at risk, rather than blaming them
• Read the WHO A Guide to Preventing and Addressing Social Stigma

Together, we can make our campus feel inclusive for everyone by treating each other with dignity and respect and sharing accurate information with our fellow community members.

One day left for fundraising for new Screenshot: Asia film festival and media series at University of Pittsburgh from September 2020.

A festival organizer writes with an update on fundraising for the new Asian film festival and media series hosted by the University of Pittsburgh from September 2020:

I wanted to update you on the progress we are making on bringing a new and improved Asian Film Festival to Pittsburgh.

I'm not sure how much you have heard about this, but Pitt will now host the festival each September (now called Screenshot: Asia), which means that the event will have much more student and faculty participation in addition to strong support from the Pittsburgh community. Screenshot Asia will be the umbrella organization for our own Japan Documentary Film Award, and they will support year-round Asian film programming (including showing silent samurai films with live musical performances like the benshi I brought last year).
We have been raising money for the Film Festival in order to prove to Pitt that we have broad community interest. Would you consider making a donation to support us?

A few reasons to support us:

• Pitt has the strongest film studies program in the city (actually a strong nation-wide reputation), and we are well positioned to make this an amazing event for the university, for Asian communities living in Pittsburgh, and for anyone who loves Asian cinema.
• Contributions start at five dollars. Any level of support would be appreciated!
• One of our students is featured in our promotional film (but you'll have to watch the video to find out who!)

We have just one more day until the campaign ends. We are making excellent progress at nearly 80% of our goal. Please take a look and consider supporting us. Many thanks!

You can click here to go directly to the EngagePitt campaign (or copy and paste the address here: https://engage.pitt.edu/project/16914).

Fundraising closes at 11:59 pm on December 3.

Screenshot: Asia was announced in September 2019. It will fill---aiming to fill to excess---a void left after Silk Screen closed in 2018 due to persistent sexual harassment by its CEO, and after Pittsburgh Filmmakers shuttered its theaters and programming in November.